Strip processing device

ABSTRACT

A strip processing device includes a strip processing cartridge and is intended for a rolling mill, and relates to a method for removing the strip processing cartridge from the strip processing device. The strip processing cartridge is mounted on a bearing region on one or more rockers on a frame. The bearing region is open for insertion or removal of the strip processing cartridge sideways and/or upwards out of the frame. A fixing mechanism fixes the strip processing cartridge on the bearing region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §§371 national phase conversionof PCT/EP2012/059694, filed May 24, 2012, which claims priority ofAustrian Application No. A917/2011, filed Jun. 22, 2011, the contents ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein. The PCT InternationalApplication was published in the German language.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strip processing device comprising astrip processing cassette for a rolling mill, and a method for removingthe strip processing cassette from the strip processing device.

Prior Art

In driving devices, also referred to as drivers, metal strip is clampedbetween a pair of rollers and driven or deflected. Drivers are typicallyused in rolling trains of rolling mills, for example hot strip rollingmills, where they are arranged upstream of rolled-strip coilers of thecoiling stations in order to set the strip tension upstream of thecoiler by means of two rolls, namely the driving roller and thesupporting driving roller.

Directional drivers have the additional object of reducing lateralcreeping of the rolled strip prior to coiling. To this end, for examplethe pivotable driving roller is actuated and positioned against thefixed supporting driving roller in such a way that, as a result of theposition of the driving roller with respect to the supporting drivingroller, the rolled strip experiences a desired strip tension and adesired lateral displacement.

Such directional drivers are known, for example, from EP747147B1 orAT500689B1.

EP747147B1 presents a directional driver, the pivotable driving rollerof which is arranged mounted between two rockers by means of the twoends of the driving roller axle. The two rockers are connected rigidlyto a torsion spring of a frame which forms an axle for the rockers.

AT500689B1 discloses a similar directional driver, in which, however,the rockers can be pivoted independently of one another on an axle of aframe.

The driving roller and the supporting driving roller of a directionaldriver have to be cleaned and polished regularly, since, for example asa result of carbon caking, particles of dirt present on the strip to becoiled, or as a result of surface defects in the strip to be coiledwhich are brought about during the first pass, the surface of thedriving roller and of the supporting roller become nonhomogeneous, whichcan in turn lead to damage to the surface of the strip to be coiled.

In EP747147B1 or AT500689B1, the driving roller axle is mounted on abearing region of the rockers, with the driving roller being located ineach case underneath the rocker. In order to avoid damage during thefirst pass misalignment, the bearings of the driving roller are placedin a play-free setting using, for example, spring-activated balancingmeans.

It is not possible to remove the driving roller in the upward direction,since the rocker is in the way of such a removal and blocks the upwardpath. For downward removal, to the right or to the left, in theoperating state the path is blocked by the supporting driving roller andthe frame. Before removal becomes possible, a blocked path therefore hasto be opened.

In order to make it possible to clean and polish the driving roller andthe supporting driving roller, the pair of rockers on which the drivingroller is mounted is normally pivoted by means of rocker cylinders intoan intermediate position; this is likewise necessary for exchanging thedriving roller. The intermediate position is often reached after thepair of rockers has been pivoted through 180°. Subsequently, the drivingroller and the supporting driving roller are usually cleaned and sandedor polished by hand in the installed state. Cleaning, sanding andpolishing in the plant constitute a safety risk. This is because thepersons involved with these processes have to position themselvesbetween the plant components within the plant, which plant componentsthus have to be reliably shutdown and blocked. In addition, there is asafety risk due to the time pressure for carrying out these tasks, sincecleaning and sanding or polishing have to be carried out in the timeperiod of 10 to 15 minutes required for changing the working rolls offrameworks. If cleaning, sanding and polishing do not produce asufficiently homogeneous surface on the driving roller or supportingdriving roller, or in the event of damage, the driving roller or thesupporting driving roller has to be removed from the frame afterpivoting of the rockers, and exchanged for a new driving roller orsupporting driving roller. To this end, in the case of directionaldrivers according to EP747147B1 or AT500689B1, the entire rockerstructure, together with the driving roller, has to be disinstalled.Owing to the multiplicity of connecting elements to be released and themass of the frame together with the driving roller, maintenance ofdriving rollers and supporting driving rollers involves a significantand time-consuming amount of work. Furthermore, it is not easy to accessthe driving roller for maintenance work when it is arranged between therockers.

According to the internal prior art, drivers are known which overcomethe disadvantages of the prior art and which involve a lesstime-consuming amount of work with fewer safety risks when changing thedriving rollers than conventional drivers and methods.

Such a driver for a steel strip coiling plant has at least onesupporting driving roller mounted on a frame and at least one drivingroller which can be adjusted with respect to the supporting drivingroller and is mounted on at least one rocker connected to the frame,wherein the driving roller is attached to a bearing region of therocker, wherein the bearing region is open for the insertion or removalof the driving roller to the side and/or in the upward direction whenthe rocker is positioned in the operating position, and the driver has asecuring mechanism for securing the driving roller at the bearingregion. The bearing region is to be understood as the region of therocker in which the driving roller is attached to the rocker.

The bearing region is open for the insertion or removal of the drivingroller to the side and/or in the upward direction when the rocker ispositioned in the operating position, and therefore the bearing regiondoes not prevent the driving roller from being disinstalled to the sideand/or in the upward direction. A driving roller can therefore beremoved from the rocker to the side and/or in the upward direction asrequired without the rocker together with the driving roller having tobe removed substantially from the operating position or without therocker together with the driving roller having to be completelydismantled. Operating position to be understood as a position of therocker which is assumed during normal operation of the driver.

The driver has a securing mechanism for securing the driving roller atthe bearing region. This ensures during operation that the drivingroller does not undesirably veer off to the side and/or in the upwarddirection. In the secured state, controlled displacement of the drivingroller into different operating positions is possible. The positioningof the driving roller with respect to the supporting driving roller inthe secured state can preferably be changed by changing the setting ofthe securing mechanism to different positions.

According to one embodiment, the securing mechanism comprises adisplaceable bar, which can preferably be secured to the rocker.

According to another embodiment, the securing mechanism comprises aswing-action device, the components of which can be swung about at leastone axle fastened to the rocker, and which can be secured to the rocker.For example, said swing-action device may involve two arms which can beswung into one another and which are locked by a displaceable wedge.Each of the arms swings about a different axle here.

The supporting driving roller is located underneath the driving roller.It is therefore not possible to remove the supporting driving roller inthe upward direction while the driving roller is installed in thedriver. If the driving roller has been removed, the path for removingthe supporting driving roller in the upward direction is open.

If the driving roller is mounted between a pair of rockers, the distancebetween the rockers is preferably greater than the length of thesupporting driving roller. This ensures that the supporting drivingroller can be removed in the upward direction as a result of the freespace produced by the removal of the driving roller.

If the distance between the rockers in the operating position is lessthan the length of the supporting driving roller, it is preferred for atleast one of the rockers to be able to be displaced or pivoted inrelation to the other rocker when the driving roller has beendisinstalled. As a result of this, the supporting driving roller can beremoved.

The steel strip coiler is preferably a steel strip coiler for a hotstrip.

The driver is preferably a directional driver.

According to one preferred embodiment, the driving roller and thesupporting driving roller are arranged in a holding device. The holdingdevice, which may be for example a holding frame, thus contains both thedriving roller and the supporting driving roller. As a result, in orderto remove or insert a pair consisting of a driving roller and asupporting driving roller, all that is required is to act on the holdingdevice and to remove it from the driver.

By virtue of the fact that the driving roller and supporting drivingroller do not have to be removed individually from or insertedindividually into the driver, the removal and insertion can be carriedout more quickly.

The supporting driving roller may be mounted on the frame in a fixed ordisplaceable manner.

According to one embodiment, the driving roller axle and/or thesupporting driving roller axle about which the driving roller or thesupporting driving roller rotates comprise/comprises at least twodriving roller axle parts and/or supporting driving roller axle parts,wherein at least one of the driving roller axle parts is configured as ashaft stub which is releasably fastened—for example via a connectingflange, a perforated disk having displaceable drive pins, or a clawcoupling—to the cylindrical body of the driving roller or supportingdriving roller. The shaft stub can be configured here as a hollow shaft,into which a motor-driven shaft can be introduced for driving thedriving roller or the supporting driving roller. This makes it possibleto remove the driving roller and/or supporting driving roller quicklyfrom the driver, and this reduces a safety risk caused by time pressurewhen changing the driving rollers.

According to one embodiment of the driver, the supporting driving rollercan be removed from the driver laterally in the direction of itslongitudinal axis. It can also be introduced into the driver laterallyin the direction of its longitudinal axis.

In the drivers shown in EP747147B1 or AT500689B1, one end of the rockerscan be rotated about an axle while the other end of the rockers isconnected to an actuating device such as, for example, a pressure-mediumcylinder, preferably a hydraulic cylinder. By adjusting this actuatingdevice, the rockers can be pivoted about their axle, for example inorder to permit the removal of the driving roller or in order to controlor adjust the distance between the driving roller and the supportingdriving roller.

The bearing region of the driving roller is located between thepivotable end of the rocker and the end of the rocker connected to theactuating device.

In the driver according to the internal prior art too, the rockers canbe pivoted about an axle arranged in an axle region of the rockers, andsaid rockers are connected in an actuating region to an actuatingdevice. In this case, the bearing region of the driving roller can, asin EP747147B1 or AT500689B1, be located between the axle region and theactuating region. According to another embodiment, the axle region canbe located between the bearing region and the actuating region. Anadvantage of such an embodiment is that forces flow away into the rockerbetter during the pressing of the driving roller and more favorablestress states are generated for the rocker. The effective distance of anactuating device which acts on one end of the rocker can also beincreased more easily in structural terms in such a construction than inembodiments configured as in EP747147B1 or AT500689B1. As a result of anincreased effective distance, the same forces can be achieved withsmaller actuating devices or larger forces can be achieved with the sameactuating devices.

A further part of the internal prior art is a method for removing adriving roller from a driver according to the internal prior art.

This method is characterized in that it comprises the steps

-   -   opening the securing mechanism,    -   removing the driving roller to the side and/or in the upward        direction from the driver.

Opening the securing mechanism is to be understood as meaning that thesecurement of the driving roller to the bearing region is released.

The supporting driving roller in a driver is secured in the driver bysecuring devices in order to ensure that during normal operation itsposition does not change at all or its position does not change beyondan acceptable degree. The supporting driving roller can be secured hereso that no movement at all is possible. It can also be displaceable toan acceptable or desired degree. The degree of displaceability which isacceptable or desired depends on the respective operating state. Inorder to be able to change the deflection forces of the driver as afunction of the strip thickness and the strip quality, it is possible,for example, to change the distance between the axle of the drivingroller and that of the supporting driving roller to a certain degree.

An embodiment of the method according to the internal prior art ischaracterized in that, after removal of the driving roller, itadditionally comprises the steps

-   -   releasing securing devices for securing the supporting driving        roller in the driver, and    -   removing the supporting driving roller in the upward direction        from the driver.

By virtue of the opening which comes about as a result of the removal ofthe driving roller, the supporting driving roller can also be removed inthe upward direction from the driver.

According to another embodiment, the supporting driving roller can bepulled out of the driver laterally, that is to say in the direction ofits longitudinal axis, for the purpose of removal. This can take placebefore or after the inventive removal of the driving roller. This canalso take place during the removal of the driving roller from thedriver; in this way, the driving roller and the supporting drivingroller can be removed more quickly than if the two removals take placein succession. The method according to the internal prior art thenadditionally comprises, during the removal of the driving roller, thesteps

-   -   releasing securing devices for securing the supporting driving        roller in the driver, and    -   removal of the supporting driving roller by pulling it laterally        out of the driver.

According to one preferred embodiment, the driving roller and supportingdriving roller are removed from the driver in pairs by removing aholding device in which a pair consisting of a driving roller and asupporting driving roller is arranged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Object

The object of the present invention is to permit components of stripprocessing devices of a rolling mill to be replaced more quicklycompared to the prior art by making available a strip processing deviceand a method for operating the strip processing device.

Technical Solution

This object is achieved by means of a strip processing device for arolling mill,

preferably a hot strip rolling mill,

which is characterized in that said strip processing device comprises astrip processing cassette mounted on a frame,

wherein the strip processing cassette is attached to a bearing region,

wherein the bearing region is open for the insertion or removal of thestrip processing cassette to the side and/or in the upward directionfrom the frame, and the strip processing device has a securing mechanismfor securing the strip processing cassette at the bearing region.

The strip processing cassette contains at least one device forprocessing strips. The strip is processed by interaction between thestrip processing cassette and the strip. The remaining parts of thestrip processing device serve to support and secure the strip processingcassette.

The bearing region, at which the strip processing cassette is mounted,is open for the insertion or for the removal of the strip processingcassette to the side and/or in the upward direction from the frame.

A securing mechanism serves to secure the strip processing cassette tothe bearing region.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

Since the strip processing cassette contains the devices which arenecessary for the desired type of strip processing, worn devices forprocessing the strips can be renewed or various types of devices forprocessing strips can be replaced quickly and easily by removing a stripprocessing cassette and inserting another strip processing cassette intothe frame. Specifically, only the strip processing cassette, that is tosay one component, has to be removed from the frame or inserted into theframe instead of individual components of the strip processing devicecontained in the strip processing cassette having to be removedindividually from the frame or inserted into it.

The strip processing cassette preferably comprises at least a devicefrom the group comprising the elements

-   -   device for stamping the strip,    -   device for roughening the strip,    -   device for smoothing the strip,    -   device for cutting the strip,    -   device for slitting the strip,    -   device for trimming the strip,    -   device for coating the strip,    -   device for doubling the strip,    -   device for testing material properties of the strip,    -   device for measuring the strip,    -   device for marking the strip,    -   device for shaping the strip,    -   device for welding the strip to another strip,    -   device for cooling the strip,    -   device for heating the strip,    -   device for punching the strip, and    -   device for taking a sample of the strip.

According to one preferred embodiment of the strip processing deviceaccording to the invention, the strip processing cassette comprises adevice for driving the strip, which is also a device from the groupcomprising the elements

-   -   device for stamping the strip,    -   device for roughening the strip,    -   device for smoothing the strip,    -   device for cutting the strip,    -   device for slitting the strip,    -   device for trimming the strip,    -   device for coating the strip,    -   device for doubling the strip,    -   device for testing material properties of the strip,    -   device for measuring the strip,    -   device for marking the strip,    -   device for shaping the strip,    -   device for welding the strip to another strip,    -   device for cooling the strip,    -   device for heating the strip,    -   device for punching the strip, and    -   device for taking a sample of the strip.

In this way, the strip processing cassette also serves as a driver. Theinternal prior art presented above relating to drivers, specifically theembodiment of the driver according to the internal prior art, in whichthe driving roller and the supporting driving roller are arranged in aholding device, can be correspondingly used.

According to one preferred embodiment of the strip processing deviceaccording to the invention, the strip processing cassette comprises adevice for driving the strip, and said strip processing cassette alsocomprises a device from the group comprising the elements

-   -   device for stamping the strip,    -   device for roughening the strip,    -   device for smoothing the strip,    -   device for cutting the strip,    -   device for slitting the strip,    -   device for trimming the strip,    -   device for coating the strip,    -   device for doubling the strip,    -   device for testing material properties of the strip,    -   device for measuring the strip,    -   device for marking the strip,    -   device for shaping the strip,    -   device for welding the strip to another strip,    -   device for cooling the strip,    -   device for heating the strip,    -   device for punching the strip, and    -   device for taking a sample of the strip.

In this way, the strip processing device also serves as a driver. Theinternal prior art presented above relating to drivers, specifically theembodiment of the driver according to the internal prior art in whichthe driving roller and the supporting driving roller are arranged in aholding device, can be correspondingly used.

Wherever a device for testing material properties of the strip ismentioned, these material properties also include properties of thesurface of the strip.

According to one preferred embodiment of the strip processing deviceaccording to the invention

the strip processing cassette is mounted on a rocker connected to theframe,

wherein the strip processing cassette is attached to a bearing region ofthe rocker,

wherein the bearing region is open for the insertion or the removal ofthe strip processing cassette to the side and/or in the upward directionwhen the rocker is positioned in the operating position.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the strip processingdevice according to the invention, the strip processing cassette ismounted between a pair of rockers connected to the frame, wherein thestrip processing cassette is attached to a bearing region of therockers,

wherein the bearing region is open for the insertion or the removal ofthe strip processing cassette to the side and/or in the upward directionwhen the rockers are positioned in the operating position.

According to one preferred embodiment, in this context at least one ofthe rockers can be displaced or pivoted relative to the other rocker.

These embodiments are of similar design to the internal prior artrelating to drivers discussed above.

Accordingly, a frame of such a driver can be used as part of a stripprocessing device according to the invention by inserting a stripprocessing cassette.

This increases flexibility—with respect to reaction to changed demandsmade of the product—of rolling mills containing drivers corresponding tothis internal prior art.

A further subject matter of the present application is a rolling mill,preferably hot strip rolling mill, comprising one or more stripprocessing devices according to the invention.

A further subject matter of the present application is a method forremoving a strip processing cassette from a strip processing deviceaccording to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the steps

-   -   opening of the securing mechanism, and    -   removal of the strip processing cassette to the side and/or in        the upward direction from the strip processing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a shows a side view of an embodiment of a driver according to theinternal prior art.

FIG. 1 b shows an elevated oblique view of a driver according to FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2 shows an elevated oblique view of a driver according to FIG. 1 bwith a driving roller and a supporting driving roller arranged in aholding device.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a driver according to the internal priorart, in which embodiment the axle region 11 is located between thebearing region 7 and the actuating region 12.

FIG. 4 shows an elevated oblique view of a driver according to theinternal prior art with the supporting driving roller removed.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative to the securing mechanism for securing thedriving roller to the bearing region.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a driver according to the internalprior art, in which embodiment the axle region 11 is located between thebearing region 7 and the actuating region 12.

FIG. 7 shows, in an illustration similar to FIG. 2, a strip processingdevice according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERNAL STATE OF THE ART

The internal prior art is described by way of example in the appendedschematic figures.

FIG. 1 a shows a side view of a driver 1 according to the internal priorart for a steel strip coiler, specifically a directional driver for ahot strip coiler. The driver 1 comprises a supporting driving roller 3mounted on a frame 2, and a driving roller 4 which can be adjusted withrespect to the supporting driving roller. In FIG. 1, the driving roller4 and the supporting driving roller 3 are illustrated merely by dashedlines, since in the side view they are concealed by the frame 2 andother parts of the driver. The driving roller 4 is mounted on a pair ofrockers 5 a, 5 b connected to the frame. In the side view in FIG. 1,only one rocker 5 a can be seen; the second rocker 5 b of the pair isconcealed by the rocker 5 a in this view. The pair of rockers 5 a, 5 bis located in the operating position. The pair of rockers 5 a, 5 b canbe pivoted about an axle 6 of the frame 2. The driving roller 4 isattached to a bearing region 7 of the rockers. The bearing region 7 isopened for the insertion or removal of the driving roller 4 to the sideand in the upward direction when the rockers are placed in the operatingposition. The bearing region is shown with a curved, closed line. Asecuring mechanism for securing the driving roller 4 to the bearingregion 7 is present, and is embodied as a displaceable bar 8. In theillustrated position of the bar 8, the latter has not yet been displacedinto its end position in which it secures the driving roller 4 to thebearing region 7. To present a clear overview, part of the rocker 5 isillustrated in sectional form so that part of the course of the bar 8 inthe rocker 5 is shown. When the bar 8 is moved out of the illustratedposition into its end position, as is shown in the following FIG. 1 b,on the one hand the driving roller 4 is secured and on the other handthe balancing pots 20 a, 20 b for placing the bearings of the drivingroller 4 in a play-free setting are activated.

FIG. 1 b shows an elevated oblique view of a driver 1 according to FIG.1 a. Components which are identical to those in FIG. 1 a are providedwith identical reference symbols. In contrast to FIG. 1 a, the bar 8 ofthe securing mechanism is illustrated in its end position in which itsecures the driving roller to the bearing region 7 of the rockers 5 a, 5b. The driving roller 4 and the supporting driving roller 3 can be seenmore clearly than in FIG. 1 a. The second rocker 5 b of the pair ofrockers 5 a, 5 b can be seen, in contrast to FIG. 1 a.

Both in FIG. 1 a and in FIG. 1 b, one end of the rockers 5 a, 5 b isconnected in each case to an actuating device, specifically a hydrauliccylinder 9 a, 9 b. By adjusting this hydraulic cylinder 9 a, 9 b, therockers 5 a, 5 b can be pivoted about their axle 6, for example in orderto set the distance of the driving roller 4 from the supporting drivingroller 3. The bearing region 7 of the driving roller is located betweenthat end of the rockers 5 a, 5 b which can be pivoted about the axle 6and that end of the rockers 5 a, 5 b which is connected to the hydrauliccylinder 9 a, 9 b of the actuating device.

FIG. 2 shows a further elevated oblique view of a driver according toFIG. 1 b. Components which are identical to those in FIG. 1 b areprovided with identical reference symbols. In contrast to FIG. 1 b, thebar 8 of the securing mechanism is illustrated in its starting position,in which it does not secure the driving roller 4 to the bearing region7. The driving roller 4 and the supporting driving roller 3 are notinstalled in the driver 1. They are arranged in a holding device,specifically a holding frame 10. The installation and removal of thedriving roller 4 and of the supporting driving roller 3 are carried outby inserting the holding frame 10 into the frame 2 of the driver 1 orremoving it therefrom.

FIG. 3 shows a side view, similar to FIG. 1 a, of a driver according tothe internal prior art. Components which are identical to those in FIG.1 a are provided with identical reference symbols. To present a cleareroverview, the driving roller 4 and the supporting driving roller 3 arenot illustrated. The axle 6 is arranged in an axle region 11 of therocker 5 a. The hydraulic cylinder 9 a is arranged in an actuatingregion 12 of the rocker 5 a. In contrast to FIG. 1 a, the axle region 11is located between the bearing region 7 and the actuating region 12.

FIG. 4 shows an elevated oblique view, similar to FIG. 1 b, of a driveraccording to the internal prior art. Components which are identical tothose in FIG. 1 b are provided with identical reference symbols. Adriving roller has not been inserted into the driver 1, and accordinglyno driving roller is illustrated. The supporting driving roller 3 is notinserted either. FIG. 4 shows the supporting driving roller in theremoved state. The supporting driving roller 3 can be removed laterallyin the direction of its longitudinal axis from the driver 1 and can beintroduced into the driver 1. FIG. 4 shows a removal framework, on whichthe supporting driving roller 3 is guided out of the driver 1 and isrespectively introduced into the driver 1. The securing mechanism forsecuring the driving roller 4 to the bearing region 7 does not have tobe embodied as a displaceable bar 8.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative securing mechanism which has a swing-actiondevice having two arms 14, 16, which can be swung into one another andare locked by a displaceable wedge device 18. Each of the arms 14, 16swings here about a different axle, arm 14 about axle 15 and arm 16about axle 17. The two arms 14, 16 are connected to the rocker 5 a viathe axles 15, 17. The displaceable wedge device 18 is fastened to thearm 16; said wedge device 18 can be displaced by means of a hydrauliccylinder 19. The arm 14 has protuberances which fit into depressions onthe displaceable wedge device 18. When the securing mechanism closes,the arms 14, 16 swing into the illustrated position and the hydrauliccylinder 19 moves the displaceable wedge device 18 in such a way thatthe depressions slide over the protuberances. In this way, the two arms14, 16 are locked together.

FIG. 6 shows a side view, similar to FIG. 1 a and FIG. 3, of a driveraccording to the internal prior art. Components which are identical tothose in FIG. 1 a are provided with identical reference symbols. Theaxle 6 is arranged in an axle region 11 of the rocker 5 a. The hydrauliccylinder 9 a is arranged in an actuating region 12 of the rocker 5 a. Asin FIG. 3, in contrast to FIG. 1 a, the axle region 11 is locatedbetween the bearing region 7 and the actuating region 12. FIG. 3 andFIG. 6 differ in the form of the rocker 5 a and the way in which thedriving roller is attached to the bearing region of the rocker.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the driver accordingto the internal prior art the driving roller and the supporting drivingroller are arranged in a holding device. The holding device, which maybe, for example, a holding frame, therefore contains both the drivingroller and the supporting driving roller. As a result, in order toremove or insert a pair consisting of a driving roller and a supportingdriving roller, all that is required is to act on the holding device andto remove it from the driver. By virtue of the fact that the drivingroller and supporting driving roller do not have to be removedindividually from or inserted individually into the driver, the removaland insertion can be carried out more quickly.

In a rolling mill, the strip is, if appropriate, also subjected in stripprocessing devices to strip processing steps, for example

-   -   cutting of the strip,    -   measuring of the strip,    -   cooling of the strip, and    -   heating of the strip.

Although the internal prior art relating to drivers and specifically theembodiment with an arrangement of a driving roller and a supportingdriving roller in a holding device permits driving rollers andsupporting driving rollers to be replaced more quickly than in the priorart according to EP747147B1 or AT500689B1, if strip processing devicesof a rolling mill require components to be replaced, the steps necessaryto do so are time-consuming and limit the availability and performanceof the rolling mill.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 7 illustrates how a strip processing cassette is inserted into thestrip processing device. Parts corresponding to FIG. 2 are provided withidentical reference symbols.

The strip processing device 22 comprises a strip processing cassette 21mounted on a frame 2. In the case illustrated, the strip processingcassette comprises a holding frame 23 in which a processing unit 24 isinserted. In the state in which it is inserted into the frame, the stripprocessing cassette 21 is mounted on a pair of rockers 5 a, 5 bconnected to the frame. The pair of rockers 5 a, 5 b are in theoperating position. The pair of rockers 5 a, 5 b can pivot about an axle6 of the frame 2. The strip processing cassette 21 is attached to abearing region 7 of the rockers. The bearing region 7 is open for theinsertion or removal of the strip processing cassette 21 in the upwarddirection when the rockers are placed in the operating position. Thebearing region is shown with a wavy closed line. A securing mechanismfor securing the strip processing cassette 21 to the bearing region 7 ispresent, it is embodied as a displaceable bar 8. The bar 8 of thesecuring mechanism is illustrated in its starting position in which itdoes not secure the strip processing cassette 21 to the bearing region7. If the bar 8 is moved out of the illustrated position into its endposition, on the one hand the strip processing cassette 21 is securedand on the other hand the balancing pots 20 a, 20 b for placing thebearings of the strip processing cassette 21 in a play-free setting areactivated.

One end of the rockers 5 a, 5 b is respectively connected to anactuating device, specifically a hydraulic cylinder 9 a, 9 b. Byadjusting this hydraulic cylinder 9 a, 9 b, the rockers 5 a, 5 b can bepivoted about their axle 6.

The bearing region 7 of the strip processing cassette 21 is locatedbetween the end which can be pivoted about the axle 6 and the end of therockers 5 a, 5 b which is connected to the hydraulic cylinder 9 a, 9 bof the actuating device.

The installation and removal of the strip processing cassette in thestrip processing device 22 are carried out by introducing the stripprocessing cassette 21 into the frame 2 of the strip processing device22 and removing it therefrom.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   1 Driver    -   2 Frame    -   3 Supporting driving roller    -   4 Driving roller    -   5 a,5 b Rocker    -   6 Axle    -   7 Bearing region    -   8 Bar    -   9 a,9 b Hydraulic cylinder    -   10 Holding frame    -   11 Axle region    -   12 Actuating region    -   13 Removal frame    -   14 Arm    -   15 Axle    -   16 Arm    -   17 Axle    -   18 Displaceable wedge device    -   19 Hydraulic cylinder    -   20 a, 20 b Balancing pots    -   21 Strip processing cassette    -   22 Strip processing device    -   23 Holding frame    -   24 Processing unit

1. A strip processing device for a rolling mill, the strip processingdevice comprising: a frame; a bearing region at the frame; a stripprocessing cassette mounted on the frame and attached to the bearingregion; a securing mechanism configured for securing the stripprocessing cassette at the bearing region; a pair of rockers connectedto the frame between which the strip processing cassette is mounted; therockers being movable between an operating position for the rockers andfor the cassette and a non-operating position thereof; the bearingregion being at the rockers; wherein the bearing region is open forinsertion or removal of the strip processing cassette to a side ofand/or in an upward direction from the frame when the rockers arepositioned in the operating position.
 2. The strip processing device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the strip processing cassette comprises atleast a device selected from the group consisting of: a device forstamping the strip; a device for roughening the strip; a device forsmoothing the strip; a device for cutting the strip; a device forslitting the strip; a device for trimming the strip; a device forcoating the strip; a device for doubling the strip; a device for testingmaterial properties of the strip; a device for measuring the strip; adevice for marking the strip; a device for shaping the strip; a devicefor welding the strip to another strip; a device for cooling the strip;a device for heating the strip; a device for punching the strip; and adevice for taking a sample of the strip.
 3. The strip processing deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip processing cassette comprises adevice for driving the strip, which is also a device selected from thegroup consisting of: a device for stamping the strip; a device forroughening the strip; a device for smoothing the strip; a device forcutting the strip; a device for slitting the strip; a device fortrimming the strip; a device for coating the strip; a device fordoubling the strip; a device for testing material properties of thestrip; a device for measuring the strip; a device for marking the strip;a device for shaping the strip; a device for welding the strip toanother strip; a device for cooling the strip; a device for heating thestrip; a device for punching the strip; and a device for taking a sampleof the strip. 4-5. (canceled)
 6. The strip processing device as claimedin claim 1, wherein at least one of the rockers can be displaced orpivoted relative to the other rocker.
 7. A rolling mill, comprising oneor more strip processing devices as claimed in claim
 1. 8. A method forremoving a strip processing cassette from the strip processing device asclaimed in claim 1, the method comprises the steps: opening of thesecuring mechanism; and removing the strip processing cassette to theside and/or in the upward direction from the strip processing device. 9.A strip processing device for a rolling mill, the strip processingdevice comprising: a frame; a bearing region at the frame; a stripprocessing cassette mounted on the frame and attached to the bearingregion; a securing mechanism configured for securing the stripprocessing cassette at the bearing region; a rocker connected to theframe to which the strip processing cassette is mounted; the rockerbeing movable between an operating position for the rocker and for thecassette and a non-operating position thereof; the bearing region beingat the rocker; wherein the bearing region is open for insertion orremoval of the strip processing cassette to a side of and/or in anupward direction from the frame when the rocker is positioned in theoperating position.